Businesses and consumers caught between opposing forces

11 June

Will a second rate cut be enough to settle the nerves of businesses and consumers spooked by global trade uncertainty? Donald Trump’s tariffs have weighed on sentiment in recent months, stifling an expected economic recovery in 2025. Household...[Read More]

RBA hints at more interest rate cuts if tariffs worsen

4 June

Minutes from the last Reserve Bank board meeting reveal why they came close to an unusually large cut, as the bank’s chief economist outlines how they think Donald Trump’s tariffs could hit the domestic economy. The minutes from the bank’s May...[Read More]

Housing set to grow from record high as rate cuts loom

4 June

Home prices have hit new highs and will likely continue to grow as lower interest rates send buyers piling back into the property market amid a lack of new housing supply. The median dwelling in Australia was worth $831,288 in May – a 0.5 per cent...[Read More]

Weak business investment underlines productivity battle

4 June

Australia’s dire productivity performance doesn’t look like rebounding any time soon, with troubling implications for the Reserve Bank’s interest rate path. Data released on Thursday reinforced the challenge the nation faces to get...[Read More]

Restaurants on the brink as business failures plateau

29 May

The future of many businesses struggling to stay afloat rests upon the Reserve Bank and Donald Trump. Business conditions in Australia remain perilously difficult, with insolvency levels at record highs in April, CreditorWatch reported in its...[Read More]

Egg, housing costs might fry hopes of earlier rate cut

28 May

A jump in the cost of building and renovating homes is not helping the case for more rate cuts. Headline inflation remained steady at 2.4 per cent in the 12 months to April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Wednesday. But the result...[Read More]

Price moves to help RBA plot course through uncertainty

28 May

The Reserve Bank could use fresh inflation insights to gauge the depth of further rate cuts as global uncertainty threatens Australia’s economic progress. Consumer price data for April, to be released on Wednesday, will help guide the RBA on...[Read More]

Full extent of Trump’s tariff slap on economy revealed

21 May

Australia’s economy will take an $8 billion dollar hit in 2025 as a result of Donald Trump’s tariffs, the Reserve Bank estimates in updated economic forecasts. Inflation is also expected to come in lower than it otherwise would have, the RBA’s...[Read More]

Borrowers rejoice as rates cut amid ‘uncertain’ times

21 May

A “dovish” Reserve Bank has cut interest rates to their lowest level in two years and raised hopes of more mortgage relief on the way for borrowers. Fears over what Donald Trump’s tariffs could do to the Australian economy dominated the RBA...[Read More]

‘Sustainable’: push to keep low-paid from falling back

21 May

Treasurer Jim Chalmers wants to ensure Australia’s lowest paid workers don’t go backwards, but stresses a real wage rise must not harm the economy. In its formal submission to the Fair Work Commission’s annual review of minimum and award...[Read More]

Trump’s tariff ‘rollercoaster’ raises recession risk

21 May

Australians are being assured the nation is well-placed to avoid a recession as the Reserve Bank expresses alarm over Donald Trump’s trade war “rollercoaster”. Forecasts released by the Reserve Bank of Australia have painted a bleak picture of...[Read More]

Money still on rate cut despite surprise spike in wages

14 May

Economists still expect the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates at its next board meeting despite a surprise spike in wage growth. Wages rose by a higher-than-expected 3.4 per cent over the year to March, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures...[Read More]

Jobs and wage data in focus ahead of interest rate call

14 May

Upcoming wages and unemployment data may have significant bearing on the Reserve Bank’s closely watched interest rate decision. Domestic signals have taken somewhat of a back seat since US President Donald Trump’s tariff dump in early April. But...[Read More]

Rate cut could fuel further ‘modest’ house price growth

7 May

Australian home values have continued to soar and an expected post-election rate cut is likely to fuel further growth. Defying economic uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, the national median dwelling price rose 0.3...[Read More]

Living costs rising despite cooling inflation

7 May

Australian households who depend on government payments have faced the highest increases in living costs this year, new data shows. Age pensioners and other recipients of government help faced 1.6 per cent higher living costs in the March quarter,...[Read More]